Where Are You Birding This Fourth Weekend of August 2009?

Did you know that the world’s largest birdwatching event is scheduled for this weekend? The British Birdwatching Fair, known to friends simply as the Birdfair, is held on the nature reserve at Rutland Water (a RAMSAR and Special Protection Area natch) and hosts about 20,000 visitors in a 3-day span. This event has a substantial conservation component; since their first project “Stop the Massacre Campaign” in 1989 to the current day, more than £2,000,000 has been raised to help save birds and their habitats in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. No wonder birders and exhibitors flock (pardon the pun) from around the world to take part. Will you be attending the British Birdfair this weekend? If not, what will you be doing and will you be watching birds? Share you plans in the comments below!

Charlie will be holding court at the Birdfair, at least for a day. Seek him out on Friday! Alas, the rest of us will be idling in the Empire State. Corey will be tearing it up donwstate whilst I might seek out Caspian Terns and the like on Lake Ontario or Skaneateles upstate.

Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.

Share This Article

FB Comments

18 Comments

Ha! Depending on the continuation of our current heat wave or not, it’s either the stroller route through the fields south of Heidelberg or the living room window, peering out from behind the closed curtains that shelter our south-facing rooms from the sun.

Based on the weather reports, I think we will be birding underneath the big umbrella in front of the pond in our back yard. On those misty, rainy days it resembles something from Dagobah. It doesn’t stop the birds, though!

Hi, I am been following this blog for awhile now and I really enjoy the reading and pictures.
My husband and I will be birding and braving the bugs at Chincoteague Island, Va. I hope to see some good shorebirds on their way south.

Well, I’ll be at the BirdFair, but not till Sunday, so I’ll miss Charlie. I haven’t been for five years – outrageous! My only excuse is living in Scotland. I should catch up with tree sparrows for the year list and, more dubiously, Egyptian geese. Last time I also had garden warbler, which has been elusive this year. A bird in trouble?

Do not have to go far. With our area in a drought all I have to do is sit still by the fountain in our courtyard. Painted buntings, numerous types of finches, cardinals, etc. all come for the water. Love the in-flight shot!